KCs stimulated by IL-17 activate the phosphatidylinositol-3-hydroxy kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway, which inhibits the formation of autophagic vesicles and enhances autophagic flux, thereby suppressing autophagy while promoting cholesterol degradation (156, 157). Here, MTOR is linked to dry eye syndrome.